The Dragon Quest series is a staple in the JRPG community, continually churning out games of varying quality for more than 35 years. The latest entry in this seminal franchise is Dragon Quest Treasures, a spin-off from the mainline series, with many of the standard Dragon Quest tropes packaged into one of the most accessible JRPG experiences out there. While that translates into this game being a good starting point for fans new to the genre and the series, it won’t pose much of a challenge for seasoned treasure hunters.
Dragon Quest Treasures features a pair of familiar faces from the outset. Erik, who served as a party member in Dragon Quest XI, and his younger sister Mia toil away onboard a Viking ship searching for treasurers to plunder. Here is the first hint that this game is aimed at a younger audience, as the Vikings are presented as far more friendly and jolly than they were in Dragon Quest XI. Erik and Mia are aged down as well, with younger features and a more enthusiastic attitude befitting this cheerier adventure.
The plot maintains this age-appropriate feeling throughout, along with a much shorter playtime. Fans expecting to sink 100 hours into this game as they did with the mainline predecessors will find themselves disappointed. Of course, there is still a looming peril hanging over the world, but it doesn’t get the sense of grand scale that JRPG fans might expect. Even the last time we saw Erik and Mia, they were in the midst of a far more apocalyptic situation than they find themselves in here.
The first hour or so of this game is spent introducing the basics of gameplay, which focuses less on combat and more on seeking out and collecting treasures. You’ll even learn the mechanics for recruiting monsters and gathering treasure well before you swing your dagger. Increasing your treasure hoard’s size and value is one of the main ways that you’ll advance the plot; while you’ll do a fair bit of hacking and slashing on your way, combat feels decidedly secondary to the pursuit of valuables.
When you do need to get your dagger out, though, combat is very straightforward, particularly in the first several hours of the game. It just requires players to bash the attack button to perform their main combo until the monster in question is vanquished. Occasionally, you’ll impress monsters so much with your skill that they’ll become available to recruit at your base, which will allow you to build a more powerful party to tackle bigger monsters and travel further into the unknown on your quest for the Dragon Stones. Honestly, the monsters in our party quickly became stronger than either Erik or Mia and could tackle the enemies on the field without our help unless we tried to take on something much higher level.
Monster companions also become central to helping you travel across the world and the different terrains. Each one comes with a 'Forte', which is an ability that helps players reach new places on the map. It is a good touch that encourages players not to focus on a monster’s battle stats when deciding their party makeup. Having a wide range of Fortes in the party will allow you to leave no stone unturned in your quest for treasure.
Even though they are presented as dual protagonists in this game, you’ll seldom get to see both Erik and Mia in action together. Players can control the sibling of their choice, leaving the other behind to mind the home base and take the monsters not in the party on smaller errands to level them up. Both Erik and Mia play the exact same way, and the game even tells you it doesn’t matter which one you control. You can switch between them every time you head back to your base if you want, and progress with one is transferred to the other, resulting in the choice being a purely cosmetic one.
Erik and Mia both being playable feels like a missed opportunity to add a much-needed wrinkle to the gameplay. Because both the protagonists play the same and have nearly identical personalities, it made the dual protagonist feature feel unnecessary. Giving them different abilities would have at least opened up some additional puzzle-solving opportunities by switching between them.
Every mechanic in Dragon Quest Treasures is a good, if simplified, take on a JRPG mechanic, adding to the feeling that this game is for younger players. Finding treasure is just a case of issuing a command and being pointed in the right direction by your magical dagger. When you get close enough, your monster companions will have a 'vision' of where it is, forcing you to check your surroundings until you spot it and dig it up. It is a fun mechanic, though it becomes repetitive after a few hours of doing it.Though there is a fun visual nod to how each monster sees things in a slightly different way. Dracky companions see the world in black and white and orcs have a kind of ultraviolet vision, for example. It is a small touch that makes the monster-vision moments feel like more than just getting a different snapshot to help you find the treasure.
Dragon Quest Treasures has some limited online functionality which consists of entering other players' “worlds” and hiding a copy of your own treasure on one of the floating islands there. It wasn’t activated when we tried to test it ahead of release, but it seems intended to encourage players to help each other build their treasure hoards. You can also send some of your monsters to other bases as part of their welcoming party, which is a purely cosmetic touch but could be an exciting way to see just what sort of monsters are out there to recruit.
The gameplay and plot might be more kid-friendly fare, but this is still a Dragon Quest game, which comes with certain expectations. The music sounds right at home in the series, hitting all the dramatic highs and sombre notes that you’d expect. The animation and character designs are colourful and full of personality and charm, from the massive boss battles to the small touches like how Erik and Mia put their daggers away with a dramatic flourish. It isn’t the best-looking Dragon Quest game out there but it is still beautiful to see and hear it all in action.
Dragon Quest Treasures plays like an introduction to JRPGs, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot of fun to be had in it. The characters are simple but charming and the monsters all have the classic Dragon Quest designs that returning fans will expect, while the focus on exploration over combat makes this entry perfect for those who want a more relaxed gameplay experience. If you've got a young person in your life that is curious about JRPGs, this is a great way to get them hooked on the genre.
Conclusion
If you go in expecting to sink 100 hours into Dragon Quest Treasures or think you’ll get the same kind of intricate plot that the series is known for, you’ll come away disappointed. However, if you are a younger gamer that is itching for a taste of what a JRPG is like or you just want something laid back to tackle, there is a lot of fun to be had here. Everything you’d expect in a JRPG is in this game, just stripped back to the basics, all adorned with that timeless Dragon Quest charm.
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Comments 67
With the amount of 50-100 hour games I've played this year, the shorter runtime will probably end up being a relief. Still want to play it, especially as my father has fallen in love with the Dracky monsters and wants to see them in action!
I generally prefer at least a bit of challenge in my JRPGs but something chill can be good from time to time as long as it has some fun and interesting mechanics and doesn't overstay its welcome.
I just want a real DQ Monsters game localized.
Will this scratch that itch?
Interesting that they've gone for a "kid's first Dragon Quest" tactic with this game. It still sounds interesting enough and well produced enough for me to want to play through. I was kinda expecting a slightly meatier origin story type game but this'll do for a DQ spin off.
Cheers for the review.
Purchasin' this as a fan of the mainline series.
Thanks for the review but the one thing I can’t see is what do you actually do with the treasure? Does it provide items? Or do you just get money, what do you do with that money? Feels like that’s what I’m hinging me buying this on.
Never played Dragon Quest game but I am looking to get into them.
Sounds stupid to say now but the fact that Dragon Quest sounds like such a generic RPG name has always put me off. Sounds like one of those early 2000's puzzle games on mobile.
This will be right up my alley. I love DQ but haven’t finished 11 or 10 offline because they are such time sinks. Will pick up after I beat FE:Engage.
@Type_Trubbish It’s just a name. The games are far from generic, and essentially define the genre. While the modern releases are quite poor, the older games, 1-7, are where the series shines.
I actually chose to pass on this once I saw the kind of gameplay it had. I suppose I expected DQ Monsters, but got something not quite that.
Ultimately fine; I will wait for the DQ3 HD2D coming hopefully in the next six months. I also hold out hope that Square will port the other (mobile version) DQ games like they did with 1-3, so I don't have to break out the 3DS to play them.
Oh no. Retailer I pre-ordered at cancelled all orders as they wouldn't get any in. Figured i'd just pass as the game was getting no coverage (classic SE). And now the reviews are finally dropping its actually looking really good across the board. Oh well.
But super glad to see it was actually worth the wait after all.
Just curious though, how is the framerate?
Sounds almost like a modern day FF Mystic Quest on SNES that will be a great intro for kids looking to try an RPG.
I was secretly hoping it would be mediocre so I could skip it…my backlog is large enough as it is…but does seem like it will be an easy going/relaxing game. Maybe I’ll scoop up the physical release on a sale and play it one day. lol
Erik is the reason I was so mad you can only romancein DQXI. Well, if I can't marry him, I may as well buy his game!
Probably will get this until DQIII remake gets release.
This sounds like a chill DQ experience. I’ll get it day one, but will probably finish DioField and Pokemon first. I really want to play this throughout the holidays for that laid back experience.
I think the bigger missed opportunity, is when a game doesn't offer you the option to play as a male or female character. My nieces would love if Zelda offered a female version of Link.
i read the graphics are ps3 quality..
I've got this pre ordered for the kids Christmas. She was very excited when she seen the trailer. Sounds perfect for her. She gets a bit stressed with more intense games.
The "JRPG community" - I'm imagining a Little House on the Prairie-esque village circa 1870, where everyone from the stable hands to the millwrights to the local pastors gather around the latest home console at the end of a tiring day to enjoy some thrilling turn-based JRPG action. The misapplication of the word 'community' needs to stop.
OK twice the article review says this is NOT a 100 hour game:
"Fans expecting to sink 100 hours into this game as they did with the mainline predecessors will find themselves disappointed."
"If you go in expecting to sink 100 hours into Dragon Quest Treasures or think you’ll get the same kind of intricate plot that the series is known for, you’ll come away disappointed."
but I can't find where it says how long it IS? 🤷♂️ And yes, I read it, hence the copy and paste above. 😁
There's a big range between 0 - 100. Sounds like more than "several" but is it 15, 30, 50, 75? Not 100 really doesn't tell me much, and it is a $60 game.
Seems like a good game for my wife, just curious how long?
Google search found this, 30 hour main story, 100 hours to complete everything. Maybe this reviewer didn't play the whole game? 😂
https://noisypixel.net/dragon-quest-treasures-playtime-monsters-series-not-abandoned/
Not really sure what the "of varying quality" thing is supposed to signify. Dragon Quest proper is literally THE most consistent JRPG series out there. Virtually every single game in the series has ranked somewhere between "very good" and "timeless classic." There's a reason why it's a cultural juggernaut.
If you're just commenting on the spin-offs, that's fair, but you should say that.
@Kirbysonic FOR REAL. Started the year finishing up a 100+ hour playthrough of SMTV then immediately started extensive playthroughs of the entire Xenoblade series on Switch. I told myself no more RPGs for 2022 but then went ahead and got into Persona 5 Royal. =) =) =)
Well this article really convinced me to pass on this game, maybe in future at lower price. It looks fun, but idk what to expect if this game is supposed to be even more casual than regular Dragon Quest games which are one of easiest JRPG games I can think of.
A cheerful and relaxing JRPG. Sounds like I will have a great time with it. Just the right thing for the winter season, or any season.
Thank you for the review.
Dragon Quest Builders has always struck me as a pretty good intro to the series for younger players, though I guess the inventory management, blueprints and combat requirements that need fulfilling do kinda push it above ABC/123 gaming.
As the production seems to have met the series' standard this is a must-add at some point, but I'll be hoping to pick it up a bit cheaper later down the line.
@AndrasLOHF haha yep it was another run of Xeno 1, Future Connected and Xeno 3 for me! Plus Legends Arceus was a time sink too. RPGs are just too good to resist 😂
@johnedwin A Switch game with PS3 graphics?!
@Mando44646 No No No, not at all. There are about 20 monster models, recolors make 74 total monsters. There is no breeding, no equipment, no way to give them commands. It's most definitely not a DQM.
this game should not be $60 bucks
Exactly as I expected.
Same as with Harvestella: I will wait for a sale to pick them up, but I WILL pick them up.
Sounds like a fun game… might pick it up down the road. With Ni No Kuni, Bravely Default II, Persona 5 & Xenoblade 3 all awaiting a playthrough, maybe a mid 2023 pickup is in the cards.
@ATHFjman18
Mystic Quest is exactly what came to my mind as I read the review.
Part of me does feel a little curious about it but I've been playing 11 on and off (mostly off) for like two and a half years at this point so probably shouldn't buy any more of these. Have fun with it when I play it but rarely actually in the mood to play it and never been all that invested in its story so it's been slow-going.
Had dug into it earlier this year for awhile but then Xenoblade 3 came out... and it does feel kind of telling that in the time I've been working through it I've beaten both Xenoblade 2 AND 3.
Defo looking at getting this, looks fun
wil pick this up to play with my son
I don't agree on the dual protagonist being unnecessary. It gives you a feeling of togetherness, and you can basically choose who you want to be and still have someone to look after the base. In contrast, Breath of the Wild really feels like you are on your own. Good for BotW, but for this game I like this feeling of not being alone.
I don't see how any of those cons are really cons? The dual protagonists sounds more like a very personal opinion and Dragon Quest always was kid-friendly. The harder draconian mode in XI was even released as an extra in the localisation. I wonder why Pokémon never got those kind of cons and still got high ratings considering scarlet and violet are only 1 point lower, but that shows the bias of the reviews on this site in general.
@MajorTom Yeah don’t read too much into cons. Usually it’s just arbitrarily thrown in to justify score. There are plenty of “I don’t like this character” cons on this site and deducts points accordingly for example
"Taking the JRPG formula back to basics" Ah yes, unlike how experimental and unformulaic Dragon Quest games are known for being
It's like if the tagline of a Metroid review was "Now with backtracking!"
@rjejr I played and beat it at the 24 hour mark, and I didn't even get any of the 7 story quest items started until past the 10 hour mark. There were a TON of quests I left unfinished that I might go back now in post-game to do.
@Orochilocka The treasure is worth money. That money is only then applied towards your "team rank". Increasing team rank increases the slots you can use to upgrade monster stats, decrease cool-down time on skills, and other passive increases.
@gcunit While not as much as Builders, there's quite a bit of inventory management and combat is quite difficult to participate in. I wiped out a good dozen times in 24 hours. Maybe I'm not as good asTrent, but I definitely didn't find the game easy. My 9 year-old is going to try, but I know there will be parts he struggles.
@rawzeku I played 24 hours on my Switch Lite and never once noticed a single slowdown. It's butter smooth. I went back to Pokemon after playing and was immediately shocked again at Pokemon's jank.
Hows the performance on this game?
That was one of my first concerns looking at the trailers.
@Specialstreamcannon
Pre-ordered before reviews, cause I knew I'd love it, its high on the play-list after I've beaten P5R. The builders spin offs were some of my favourites games on switch, I'm sure this will be no different. Call me casual but I see 'too easy' in the cons and see it as a positive thing.
@Plattym3 thanks! Bigger question, is that fun?
I feel like I don't need this game but it looks so adorable and is apparently better than I anticipated, so I'm very tempted.
@Orochilocka Hard to say. I enjoyed playing it. But I beat it at 24 hours and feel no need to go back and do more. And heck, I love DQ and the series enough to run a podcast all about them (DQ Slime Time). But I really enjoy games based on their combat, and honestly this didn't work.
The battle system here gives players little to no customization or agency. Also, the monsters scale with you so walking the same island at level 40, you'll see level 30-50 monsters, the same as you saw them 10-30 when you were level 20. And you know what? Sure you're stronger, but so are they. You and a level 40 team are going to take the exact amount of time to wipe out level 40 monsters as your level 20 team took to wipe out level 20 monsters. Battle never evolves, it never changes. You & your monsters learn zero new abilities the entire game. You never feel any stonger. Heck, when I beat the final boss and other big ones, it wasn't because I got stronger or better, because there was really no way to. It was because I spent a lot more money on bullets. I spent 20+ mins on the final boss just slowly chipping away and healing and restoring MP becuase I had a ton of money to spend on those items. There were never really any area of effect spells or skills except each monsters special one that charges up slowly. In regular DQ games, you start off only being able to stab stab, heal. By the end, you're using powering magic and learning skills that attack everyone at once a and just sometimes being able to curb-stomp people. That never happens in Treasures. The battles at hour 40 take as long, and play out exactly the same as the battles at level 20 or 5.
@Plattym3 that makes me cautious. Doesn’t feel 8/10 to me. I’ve actually pre ordered because I’ve loved every spin off; I hated Warriors type games, until Dragon Quest Heroes 2 showed me they can be action RPGs. Builders? I put 60 hours into it and loved it. So I had faith this would do the same.
Oh and DQ11? 200 hours plus. Best game of all time.
@EliJapan Sorry about that, I fixed it.
@KayFiOS I think the Dragon Quest 11 S version of the game allows to romance anyone? Correct me if I am wrong
@NathanCox You can choose anyone in your party to live with you, but you can only marry Gemma
DQ games forever!
It's an real-time RPG combat, not turn-based, right?
Are you only controlling the humans? What control do you have over the monsters in combat?
@Type_Trubbish play 11, it's great!
Only thinking of Dragon quest 3 2D-HD
And DQ XII 😍
Feels like a game originally made for mobile but upgraded to console. It looks fine, but 60 dollars seems a little too much.
@Plattym3 Thanks, good game for my wife to play then. Though that part about the monsters leveling up w/ you sounds awful, like what's the point of even leveling up then? 🤷♂️
Still waiting for a 1/2 sale.
@SonOfDracula Nobody honest would describe Dragon Quest 11 as ‘quite poor’.
I liked my experience with the game. Both me & my niece have picked up the game and we’ve been comparing treasures(she’s kicking my posterior so far). She’s a relatively new Dragon Quest fan & a new switch owner this and Pokemon Violet are her current obsessions.
This sounds like the 2022 DQ equivalent of 'Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest'.
DQ11 offered no challenge. To hear this offers less, damn...
@SonOfDracula
Suggesting 1-3 are where DQ shines is a big stretch. Saying 1-7 is where it is at also shows you are very much a retro style jrpg fan rather than the modern fare.
8 is fantastic, 11 is better than fantastic and is one of the best jrpgs of all time.
@Rosona Stop trying to categorize me based off one comment, that's weird. The series has been in a decline from what made it unique. 8 is where things started going down, and 11 is easily the most generic thing this company has produced. At least the old games retained some semblance of charm.
It would take someone that has played all the games to be able to see that.
@WetBones That's a strange reply. I'm speaking from an honest position, and sharing my opinion of that garbage game.
@SonOfDracula Your opinion is your opinion, but… as someone who has also played and beaten every game in the series (with the exception of X), I’m definitely not seeing what you’re seeing. The series hit its stride with III, and almost every mainline game since has been excellent.
DQ XI is up there with V and VIII as the best games in the series. All three are charming and full of personality.
(And yes, I realize I’m responding to a nearly 3-month old comment…)
@shining_nexus
sorry for the late reply / question . I am assuming by now you finished Dio Field ? Impressions ? Really thinking about getting that one as well as Voice of the Cards and Harvestella. Thanks I’m advance !
@HolyYoshi i would recommend due to its unique combat system and interesting characters. It does feel like a budget title however, so i would probably get it on sale.
It felt like the devs were experimenting with this game, so the combat can be easily exploited and easy to beat. Fun nonetheless. But i feel like a sequel would hopefully iterate and improve the system and all around make a better game.
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